Security experts said it would be child's play for thieves to access sensitive data on the Duchess of York's stolen laptop, despite the use of password protection.
Fergie's computer, swiped during a break in to a photography studio last Thursday, reportedly revealed Manchester United's January transfer window targets unreleased …

One rule for them, one rule for us.

The Royal Family, on the other hand, has a much lower details-to-laptop ratio: in this instance, it would seem that Fergie and her girls have an entire laptop to themselves, a bit like taking their personal data taking a chartered Lear jet rather than sitting cross-legged in the cargo hold of an easyJet flight.

Encrypted USB sticks = bad, Non encrypted data on laptop = good

Some companies have security policies created by nincompoops stating that because USB sticks have got lost by idiots in the past we will make everyone save all their sensitive company data onto laptops, which have passwords (therefore secure) and which we will prominently carry home every night in bags with prominently displayed computer logos on them, because if we kept them in the office they might get stolen..

Carrying a computer bag home after dark (with aformentioned well recognisable computer logo on back) will not increase the chances of the data falling into the wrong hands... especially seeing as we carry them home on a daily basis, through the same neighbourhood night after night, following the same route, carrying laptops with non-encrypted data on them.

Belief beggared?

"so it beggars belief that the Royal Family's security staff - who are supposedly drawn from the upper echelons of the Police and UK Security Services - didn't pick up on the need for IT security on the photos."

Unfortunately, no, it doesn't beggar belief at all. Standard thought processes seem to not be able to tell the difference between encryption and password-protected. I've been asked what the difference is by people who really should know better too many times to be comfortable.

Eh???

Spanner, meet nut.

"Tools"? I see why you're AC, you realize your own stupidity but can't put your finger on it.

To help you along: It's not the pictures in se that have to be encrypted, it's the entire HD contents. That a (probably virus-laden) laptop is not the most efficient way to transport a few pics is also pointed out in the article, but in itself an unrelated WTF.

Note to ElReg: stick to single bullet points in articles, you confuse some of the plebs.

@ Gordon

hmmm..

publicity scarce ex-royal, now wannabe tv star, leaves laptop(?) in photo developers, and says in a loud voice, "oh don't look in that folder on the desktop named 'Private sexy pics/vids of a real live duchess who has tea with the queen and talks all posh and stuff' please" as i would be so embarrassed at all the publicity that would generate".

Words....fail....me!

Bah....

@Spanner, meet nut.

What on Earth is she going to have on the laptop that is any more or less important then information that anyone else may or may not have. Maybe a calander! Oh Noes! But then it's no different from her phone being stolen, oh noes they have her phone address book. Waahhh

Maybe she happend to have the laptop with her becouse she was working on it doing other things, I know several people who generally have their laptop on them to write things, email things, and generally do other things. There are a multitude of reasons why she may have thought "ah I'll use my laptop" instead of troting around with a USB stick that would be no use to her unless she could get access to a pc.

Stop trying to be clever and live with the fact that you're a bland unintelligent know it all.

So let me get this straight

Various and assorted jackholes in your government have thus far lost or managed to get stolen sensitive information on what.... probably half the population now? And yet some how those same types just because they are working for the royal family would apply better data security practices? Hummm, yeah given the track record this year alone I don't think that will be happening.

BTW, @Vincent: Porn pictures of the royal family, Porn pictures of the royal family, Porn pictures of the royal family... Oh and probably money shots with Fergie on the receiving end... muahahahaha

Careless

Eat the Royals

It makes me laugh!

One the fact that this has made the news and Two the fact that a laptop with sensitive date on was not encrypted.... We might not deem this to be sensitive but someone clearly does... Which brings me to Password protection is not good for anything other than delaying the outcome of getting the information. Hacking a password takes a matter of minutes and if you have not encrypted the Laptop then its your own fault. Encrypt to 256 bit and have the login at pre boot... We have installed Check Point FDE for this very reason and have ticked all the boxes for FIP 140-2 requirements...

These so called IT bods are getting paid a lot of tax payers money for nothing!